Lights, Camera, Learn!

I was thrilled last week to participate in the Video in the Classroom Blog Carnival over at Mathew Needleman's Creating Lifelong Learners . Along with some choice postings from this blog, I was in the good company of other blogging educators passionate about using video in the classroom including Kevin Hodgson, Dan Meyer and our friend Joe Brennan shares his famous 'Makin' Movies' presentation where you might find me and my Google Teacher Academy video making a cameo appearance. There are also some tricks for downloading YouTube videos and some valuable links to some royalty free production resources. Article submissions are being accepted now for next Blog Carnival in June. Support the cause, share your knowledge! Just a quick reminder that I'll be the keynote speaker at the San Gabriel Valley CUE Tech Fair this Saturday! I'll be presenting a couple of new lessons ideas for both students and teachers. I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends in the e...

I'm teaching a career-track TV/Video class at a local high school as part of California's State Regional Occupational Program (ROP). In addition to the basics of production, the curriculum calls for units on career building; resumes, portfolios, interview skills etc. I'm finally over the trauma of the mandatory sexual harassment unit. I was looking for something to show that class that would make the career essentials stuff as riveting in the classroom as it is in real life and I came across GET A JOB a little gem from the 1980's. Brad Caslor's 1985 animated classic is technically an "educational film" dealing with self-motivation, preparing a resume, contacting people by phone and mail, getting ready for an interview and the interview itself. More than that it's a brilliant homage to Bob Clampett, Tex Avery and other extreme animation of the 1940's. Thanks to the miracle of YouTube this out-of-print nugget exists to help get your kids ready for...

Mark your calendars. I have a few speaking and workshop dates of note: I'm scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the San Gabriel Valley CUE Tech Fair. My first keynote invitation, I'll have something special for the presentation. If you are in the greater LA area, try to make it. Saturday, May 2 Village@Indian Hill Conference Center 1460 E. Holt Avenue, Pomona, CA http://www.sgvcue.org/events/09techfair.html If you are planning to attend NECC this summer in Washington DC, I'll be presenting a Lights, Camera, Learn! workshop as a pre-conference session with my friend, colleague and fellow Google Certified Teacher Ken Shelton. Seats are still available for this 1-day intensive on June 27, 2009. Registration info. Also of note, this term I started teaching an intermediate filmmaking course online for Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. Wilkes' Professional and Graduate Studies program has partnered with Discovery Education to offer an MS degree in Instructional Media comp...